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Disclaimer time once again!   One-hundred-and-third verse 
same as the first . . . everybody *sing*:

I don't own these characters, (chorus) Paramount does!
I don't own this venue, (chorus) Paramount does!
I am making no money off of this, (chorus) Paramount does 
not either!

This story involves love and sex and affection between two 
men, aka: slash.  If that is *not* your cup of tea, sweet as it 
is, then don't read it!  (simple, ain't it??) Feedback is *very* 
much appreciated, and always answered.  Flames will be 
passed around to friends and chuckled over.  :)

Fiftieth story in the Stage Direction series.  Sequel to 'Ssst', 
'Growl', 'Chuckle', 'Sob', 'Grin', 'Sigh', 'Smile', 'Yawn', 
'Whisper', 'Groan', 'Hover', 'Waffle', 'Comfort', 'Fidget', 
'Grimace', 'Sizzle', 'Glare', 'Shrug', 'Doze', 'Snort', 'Whack', 
'Stretch', 'Snicker', 'Pace', 'Hug', 'Clink', 'Wonder', 'Kiss', 
'Doubt', 'Surprise', 'Cuddle', 'Ahem', 'Confer', 'Recover', 
'Rant', 'Soothe', 'Hold', 'Whistle', 'Feel', 'Squeak', 'Move', 
'Splash', 'Shiver', 'Advise', 'Fly', 'Reconcile', 'Mend', 'Miss', 
and 'Chat'.

'Forgive' by Amirin <groh@iquest.net>


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<bree-oop>

"Come."  <stunned pause>  <wary look>  "Harry?"

<swallow>  <squirm>  "Hey."  <sniff>  <sigh>  "I, uh, I just 
got done talking to Neelix.  About, um, you."

<heavy sigh>  <drag hand through hair> <softly>  "Oh, boy."

<snort>  <slight grin>  "Yeah.  He's pretty, um, merciless, 
you know.  Where you're concerned."

<wry chuckle>  "Yeah, he is."  <assessing look>  "You seem 
to have emerged relatively unscathed."

<hesitant grin>  "Yeah.  He left before any permanent 
damage was done."

<snort>  <nod>  <smile>  "Har . . .?"

<interrupt>  "He also left me with a lot to think about." 
<careful sigh> "And I've been thinking."

<slight frown> <quietly>  "And?"

<study floor> "He's right.  About a lot of things."  <force gaze 
up into clear, blue eyes>  "I miss you.  Even more as a 
friend than as a lover."  <start pacing>  "For so long, it was 
just you and me, remember?  Before B'Elanna, before any 
of it.  And I miss it."  <shrug>  

<softly>  "Me, too."

<swallow>  <choked>  "Yeah?"

<nod>  <step closer>  "Yeah.  I love Neelix, I really do . . ."

<interrupt>  "I know.  And he's head over heels for you, too."

<smile>  "I know."  <sigh>  "But, I still miss you, Har. 
There's this empty place where you used to be.  I hate it."

<startled look>  "Like part of you is missing?  And I have 
that part?"

<slow nod>  <amused frown> "Actually, that's exactly what I 
was thinking."

<wide-eyed look>  <slowly>  "I said that to you when you 
were in the coma."

<raised eyebrow>  "You came . . .?"

<fierce interruption>  <brown eyes snapping>  "Of *course* I 
came!  I practically *killed* you, Tom.  I had to see if you 
were okay."  <whisper>  "I had to."

<gently>  "It wasn't your fault, Harry.  It was an accident."

<angry wave>  "It *was* my fault.  I just keep hurting you 
and hurting . . . Mmmph."  <glare>

<remove hand from tight mouth> <grasp shoulders>  "It was 
an accident.  And I'll never believe otherwise.  *Never*, Har."

<choked>  "Tom, I'm so sorry."  <crumble>

<wrap arms around shaking frame> <soothingly>  "I know. 
Shhh, I know.  And you're forgiven."

<breathe>  <sniff>  <sigh>  <swallow>  <hug> <ease away>

"And I'm sorry I've been such an idiot about Neelix, too."

<sad grin>  "You're part of a large majority."

<shake head> "Not any more. An awful lot of people like the 
idea of the two of you together."

<smirk>  "Don't tell me, let me guess.  B'Ela's been 
threatening to toss anyone  who says a nasty word about us 
into the warp core, right?"

<shared chuckle>  

"No, actually.  Chakotay's been verbally busting chops since 
he reprimanded Rollins."

<startled silence>  "*He* reported Rollins?"

<nod>  "Yup."

"I thought the Captain . . ."

<shake head> "No, but she went on record to back 
Chakotay up.  Cited numerous examples of Federation 
dictates about tolerance for other species, quoted chapter 
and verse on Starfleet protocols regarding bi-species 
relationships.  All very official.  They let Rollins have it."

<grin>  "The old 'one-two punch'."

<laugh>  "He never knew what hit him.  And you missed his 
ultimate shame.  I just heard about it from Sam Wildman, on 
my way here. She was taking Naomi to the holodeck for ice 
cream."

<curious smile>  "What happened?"

<wicked grin>  "Naomi walked right up to Rollins in the mess 
hall and told him he should be ashamed of himself.  That her 
Mommy and Daddy were two different species and if they 
hadn't loved each other, she wouldn't be here. She was 
almost in tears."

<wince>  "Oh, damn.  Poor kid."

<nod>  <sigh>  "Yeah.  She told him that the same was true 
for B'Elanna, too, having a Mommy and Daddy that were 
different.  And then came the best part."  <huge smile>

<impatient gesture>  "What?  Come on, Har, you're killing 
me, here."

<rock on heels> "She told Rollins that Neelix was a beautiful 
person and that if you could see it, and she could see it, 
then he had no excuse not to see it.  And then she tossed a 
glare around the room and said, 'And that goes for the rest 
of you, too'.  And turned on her heel and walked out the 
door."

<snort>  <soft smile>  <sigh>  "Gods, I adore that kid."

<grin>  "She's something else, all right."

<pause>  <warm look>  "Har?  You up for some ice cream?"

<emotional, relieved sigh>  <tremulous smile>  "Yeah.  I'd 
like that.  I'd like that a lot."


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